Page 194 of Sinful Like Us

“That’s fair.” Akara slings his backpack over his shoulder. “Everyone move out. We need to get on the road.” He leaves out the front door, a gust of snow flying in before it shuts.

Tony trailing right after.

The rest of SFO come up from behind me and stand on either side.

Farrow.

Oscar.

Donnelly.

And Quinn.

We watch Akara leave, and Oscar says, “Either Kitsuwon is the smartest motherfucker here or we’ve all just been fucked raw.”

“Tony as our lead,” Farrow says the unbelievable reality. “Count me out, boys.”

“You’re quitting?” Quinn asks.

“No.” Farrow slings his duffel across his chest, and walking backwards, he says, “I’m just not listening to a thing that fucker says.” He spins around, raises his fingers in goodbye, and exits into the cold.

Quinn grabs his backpack. “Me too.” Strap on one shoulder, he heads out.

Donnelly stuffs his hands into his pockets and saunters out next.

It’s just me and Oscar left.

I take fault for the cards he’s been dealt. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.” Oscar ties a bandana around his forehead, curly pieces falling over. “We’re all glad that you and Banks switched.”

Confusion hardens my face.

Oscar is already telling me, “She needed you here.” He clasps his duffel by the short handles and follows the SFO bodyguards.

I’m last.

I stare around the quiet Mackintosh House that isolated our frustration, anger, feuds, fistfights, hurt, and rage—but I’m going to remember the good.

The laughter, the love.

Growing closer to Jane. Growing closer to her family, to Farrow and this brotherhood of men.

I smile.

And I lock the doors on my way out.

Right now, I want to see one person. Rental cars are lined up in a row, and I spot Jane in the first one. She sits in the backseat, Maximoff already in the front.

Swiftly, I slide in beside her and shut the door before cold air blows inside.

“How’d it go?” She takes my gloveless hands, rubbing my palms to warm them.

I’m entranced by Jane for a second. Her wavy hair flows out of a cat-eared beanie, a purple puffy jacket zipped up, even in the heated car. Cheeks rosy, she looks warmed. I wrap my arms around her shoulders, and she leans her weight into me.

I find the words to explain everything.

When I finish, she takes a sharp breath. “Akara said not to worry?”